New helicopter ambulance makes its inaugural El Paso flight

EL PASO, Texas -- The Borderland now has a new tool to get those facing a medical emergency to the hospital as quick as possible.

Native Air 40 is a state of the art helicopter that will be based out of the Hospitals of Providence at its' Horizon Campus.

The chopper can land near the scene of the accident and take those affected to near-by hospitals.

It does not only fly to Providence but to whichever facility can handle the patient more effectively.

Before this service was available air transports were called in from Las Cruces, Alamogordo and even as far away as Carlsbad.

It previously took between 20 minutes and up to an hour for a helicopter to get to you, but not anymore.

The helicopter is equipped with life-saving equipment and two medical personnel trained in emergency procedures.

Native Air is not just exclusive to El Paso.

"Its actually goes out to Van Horn, Sierra Blanca and those areas that are typically transporting patients in," said Allie Lozano, a spokesperson with Providence.